Travel Photography Tips: People

Photographing someone from the back helps make the process easier, as I did with this woman in Bali.

It’s something that I struggle with myself: photographing people in my travels. There are some places completely conducive to this, however. Vietnam is one of these places. The Vietnamese people (especially children), tend to throw themselves in front of a foreigner’s camera. They are excited to have you visiting their country and, in many parts, being captured on film – well, digitally, anyway – is still a novelty. And, they love to see the immediate results.

Other cultures, like the indigenous peoples of Central America, believe that you are capturing part of their soul by taking their photo and they shy away from it.

Here are a few simple tips to consider when you want to take that perfect photo that will say it all about your adventure.

1. First, know the culture you’re visiting and whether there are any taboos about taking photographs of the people. Being armed with this knowledge is critical to proceeding.

These very shy girls in Guatemala allowed me to take their photo after I purchased some trinkets from them.

2. It may not be appropriate for the situation to ask your subject if you can take their photo. Perhaps you are trying to capture a quiet mother/daughter moment that you don’t want to disturb. If your subject makes eye contact with you, however, always gesture in a way that asks their permission for you to continue.

3. To find the locals, you’ll need to go where they go: markets, parks, community centers and events such as festivals. While there may be a healthy dose of tourists in these locations, you’re sure to find a high concentration of locals as well.

I photographed this Balinese woman in a busy market near Ubud.

4. Shooting with a telephoto lens will allow you to keep your distance from your subject without making them feel uncomfortable.

These women in India were photographed while they were obviously concentrating on something else.

5. Shoot in the early morning hours or late in the afternoon when the sun provides soft shadows.